Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl won their first YONEX OPEN JAPAN title in 2016, becoming the first Danish women to ever win a title at the tournament in women's doubles. They were also the first Europeans to win a women's doubles title since 1991.

April saw the nations of Japan and Ecuador hit by disastrous earthquakes, with the populations of both nations gravely affected. With both nations undergoing extreme hardship, our players have made video messages in which they offer their thoughts and feelings to the victims and people affected by these disasters.